Blanket or similar device



June 24, 1930. 1. F. GEHRKE 1,767,842

BLANKET OR SIMILAR DEVICE Filed July 5, 1928 of the body and Patented June 24, 1930 PATENT! OFFICE IRENE I. GEHRKE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS BLANKET on smrnm nnvrcr.

Application filed July 5, 1928. Serial No. 290,485.

This invention pertains to the general class of textiles and particularly to the class of blankets or similar articles.

Applicants invention will be described as applied to a blanket. However, it is obvious that same may be applied to anyeother similar covering such as a quilt, ro rug, poncho, etc.

Applicants invention is of particular service in hospitals and in the nursery, and especially in the general care of children. Applicant is aware that there are several devices in the prior art designed for the purpose of keeping coverings over small children, when same are asleep. These devices, however, as far as applicant is aware, are adapted for this particular use only and cannot be used as a regular covering such as an ordinary blanket. This requires an additional outlay inasmuch as regular blankets are also required.

Furthermore, it is universally recognized that the human being has an innate aversion toward having his freedom of movement restricted. This applies particularly to babies, which fact may be readily demonstrated by merely limiting free movement of some part particularly arms and legs. The protest generally through vocal exertions of volume and magnitude. It is thought that one of the causes of irritability and sleeplessness of youngsters particularly at night when there isno one to keep constant watch over them is the fact that the bed clothing has been so arranged and secured to keep the baby covered that the youngster is unduly restricted. The child when first put tosleep is generally so tired that it does not protest at first. However, after having benefited by a few hours sleep, it then begins to protest against having bed clothing wrapped, tied, pinned or otherwise secured about it,

An object of applicants invention, therefore, is the production of a device of this character that is adapted to be secured about the person, allowing freedom of both the arms and legs as well as the body, and that may be also used as a blanket or other covering in the ordinary way. A further object is the finds expression of applicants invention is the production of a device of this character that may be secured about the neck and shoulders of the person such as to allow full movement of the neck and shoulders without danger of restriction or without danger of the device sli ping over the head.

A further object of applicants invention production of a device of this character that is simple in construction, of low cost, easy to manufacture, that is adapted to be used as an ordinary covering in the ordinary way, that may be used safely without danger of choking or smothering or otherwise injuring the person covered, that is durable, of long life, that may be easily laundered, and otherwise highly satisfactory for its intended purpose. Many other objects and advantages of the construction herein shown and described will be obvious to those skilled in the art from the disclosure herein iven.

The evice illustrated in the drawings is of the shape of an ordinary baby blanket, that is, more or less rectangular. The short sides of the supposed rectangle, however, are more or less curved and each has an indented arcuate portion at the middle of the side. A plurality of ribbons or other similar securing means are attached to the blanket on each sideof one of said indented arcuate portions. A plurality of spaced button holes, straps, or other similar means are provided on each side of the other indented arcuate portion, which last-mentioned means cooperates with said ribbons to secure the device in position about the neck and shoulders. It is understood that when the device is in use one of the indented arcuate portions is about the front of the neck and the other about the back of the neck, the ends of the arcuate portions overlapping and secured in position by the securing means heretofore described. A plurality of ribbons or other securing means may be provided along the edges of the overlapping portions of the blanket to secure same together. The blanket as shown in its preferred form is symmetrical about both its transverse axis and its longitudinal axis, and ,in this form lends itself to the economy incidental to mass production. For example, a rectangular section of the cloth of the desired length ma be folded along its transverse axis and hot ends cut by the same operation of stamping or cutting.

To this end my invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate like or corresponding parts,

Fig. folded;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the blanket folded but untied;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the preferred form of tying;

Fig. 4 is a section on line 4- 1: of Flg. 3; and

Fig. 5 is a section on line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in the drawing, wherein 1 is a blanket or other form of covering of any shape, design, or of any material as desired. The sides 2 and 3 in the form shown are more or less straight. However, it is obvious that same may be of any shape as desired. The ends 4 and 5 of the blanket are cut or otherwise formed, preferably with a plurality of arcuate portions 6, 7, 8 and 9 respectively, which arcuate portions extend inwardly from the sides and preferably outwardly at the ends of the blanket. The arcuate portions 6 and 7 terminate at the end of the indented arcuate portion 10 which is positioned along the longitudinal center line of the blanket. The arcuate portions 8 and 9 terminate at the end of a similar indented portion 11 at the other end of the blanket. On each side of the arcuate portion 10 are arranged a row of paired apertures which are preferably formed in the same manner as a button hole. The number of paired apertures 12 is as desired, and same form an adjustment for the size of the neck-opening in the device. It is obvious that loops or any other means may be substituted for the apertures 12 if desired. On each side of the arcuate portion 11 are secured pairs of ribbons or similar means 13. The edges of the blanket may be bound as 1 is a plan view of a blanket un- .shown at 14 if desired. A plurality of ribbons 13 are preferably provided along the sides of the blanket to hold same together when the device is in folded position, as illustrated in Fig. 2. It is merely necessary to tie opposed ribbons together. The arcuate portions 10 and 11 fit about the neck, and the ends of the arcuate portions overlap on the shoulder on each side of the neck as illustrated in Fig. 3. While any means may be provided for securing these parts together,

applicant prefers to provide the ribbons 13 and the apertures 12. In Fig. 3 the end of the arcuate portion 11 is shown overlapping the ends of the arcuate portion 10. One of the ribbons 13 has been passed downwardly throu h one of the apertures 12 as shown at 16. ame has then been passed upwardly through the other aperture of the pair, as shown at 17. Its free end 18 may now be tied together with the remaining ribbon 19. The parts in Fig. 3 are not shown drawn together, for in the preferred embodiment the parts along the upper edge of the device close upon one another.

Figs. 4 and 5 illustrate the position of the knot 20 when the parts are secured together in the preferred manner.

In using the device the child or adult, as the case may be, is placed on one-half of the blanket, preferably with its head at the arcuate portion 10 such that it may be drawn up about the neck. The other end is then drawn up over the person and the arcuate portion 11 also fitted about the neck. The ends of the arcuate portions 10 and 11 are now secured together over the shoulders. The sides may then be secured together in any manner and preferably by the ribbons shown.

It will be noted that when the device is used for babies that maximum freedom of movement is possible. The arms may be freed from the device without disarranging same and may be drawn back in under the covers in the same manner. This freedom of the arms is very essential with infants, inasmuch as any restriction of the arms generally makes a child very irritable.

The device is also very servicable in hospitals, particularly in keeping a blanket about a person coming from the operating room and still under the influence of an anaesthetic. this stage and it is absolutely necessary that they be kept covered with a blanket to prevent what is known as ether pneumonia and for other reasons. Applicants device obviates the necessity of the constant attendance of a nurse or a number of nurses as the case might be. The device may also be used in hospitals to keep covers on persons injured in a manner such that they do not have the free use of their arms to keep the covers in place.

Many other uses will suggest themselves to persons familiar with applicants invention.

It is obvious that a blanket for two persons may be made by merely doubling the width and duplicating the parts.

Applicants blanket may be manufactured for approximately the same cost as a regular blanket and may be sold for the same price in most instances. The blanket may Patients are very unruly at extreme rounded be used for any other purpose and is thus not restricted to the use illustrated.

It is thus seen that a novel device has been provided, highly satisfactory for its intended purpose. N

Having thus described my invention, it is obvious that various immaterial modifications may be made in the same without departing from 'the spirit of my invention; hence I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact form, construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described, or uses mentioned.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a device of the character described, a body member of fiat construction and symmetrical about its transverse axis, the opposite end edges of said member being extended beyond the line or plane between the corners of the body member to form two projecting portions with the space between the pro ections defining an arcuate enclosure for the neck, and the space between the projections and corners of the body member defining arcuate indentations to permit free movement of the arms of an infant when said member is folded to bring its end edges in proximity to each other, and means for securing the rounded projecting portions together.

2. In a device of the character described, i

an elongated body member of flat construction and symmetrical about its transverse axis, the opposite end edges of said body member being extended beyond the line ,or plane between the corners of the body member to form two extreme rounded projecting portions ,with the space between the projections defining a centrall arranged arcuate enclosure for the neo and the space .between the projections and corners of the body member defining arcuate indentations larger than the aforesaid enclosure to permit free movement of the arms of an infant when said member is folded to bring its end edges in proximity to each other, and means ing portions together.

' 3. In a device of the character a rectangularly shaped body member of fiat construction and symmetrical about its transverse axis, the opposite end edges of said body member being extended beyond the line or plane betweenthe corners of the body member to form two extreme rounded pro ecting portions, each equidistant from the longitudinal axis of the body member, and with the space between the projecting portions definin a centrally arranged arfor securing the rounded projectdescribed,

an infant when said member is folded to bring its end edges in proximity to each other, and means for securing the rounded projecting portions together.

In a device of the character described, a rectangularly shaped body member of flat construction and symmetrical about its transverse axis, binding fixed to the edges of said member, the opposite end edges of said member being extended beyond the line or plane between the corners of the member to form two extreme rounded projecting portions with the space between the projections defining an arcuate enclosure for the neck, and the space between the projections and corners of the member defining arcuate identations to permit free movement of the arms of an infant when said body member is folded to bring its end edges in proximity to each other, and means arranged along the sides and on the rounded pro ecting portions for securing the body member in a folded position.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name.

IRENE F. GEHRKE.

cuate enclosure or the neck, and the s ace between the projections and corners o the' member defining arcuate indentations to permit free movement of the extended arms of 

